Hello there! It’s Heather here for Vanessa. People have really strong feelings about green smoothies. Some people love them, like “Let’s all drink two smoothies a day for life” kind of love them. Other people won’t touch them with a ten foot pole. A few years ago, I was somewhere in the middle. I could see the value in smoothies… It doesn’t get much healthier than kale for breakfast, but I didn’t necessarily love the idea of downing one. That is until I found a really great smoothie base. Turns out 1 cups of greens, 1 banana, and 1 1/4 cups of orange juice will make just about any smoothie taste delicious. I can add berries, vegetables, fruit, and nuts, but that magical base will make any combination turn out ok.
Now, I kind of pick and choose other ingredients based on whatever my family needs that week. For example, if a bad cold is going around, I might go heavy on the citrus and spirulina to beef up our immune systems. If we are being a little more active than usual, I’ll add almonds or walnuts for protein. Recovering from a tummy bug? Greek yogurt and ginger to the rescue. Finding a base your family likes is kind of the whole key to unlocking the smoothie game. And, it’s pretty rewarding to watch my toddler, who hates veggies, sip a green smoothie. I feel so sneaky.
This particular smoothie was inspired by summer. Lots of fresh citrus and berries capture the taste of summer while providing antioxidants and boosting your metabolism. Tangy grapefruit provides lots of vitamin C, plus it’s great for heart health and it curbs your appetite. A dash of lime adds a little zest while kale gets in your greens for the day. Last, but not least, frozen strawberries and blueberries keep things sweet. It’s a great tasting smoothie that will help you get in shape for summer. Drink up!
INGREDIENTS
1/2 grapefruit, segmented and peeled
1 cup baby kale
1 banana
1/4 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 1/4 cup orange juice
Step 1: In a blender, puree ingredients until smooth. It will usually take about 1-2 minutes depending on your blender.
Step 2: Pour into glasses and enjoy. Makes 2 smoothies. For more of my favorite smoothies, click here!
